Refrigerating apparatus



NOV. l1, 1930. J, R FEHR 1,781,003

REFR IGERAT I NG APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2J 1926 i Qa Patented Nov. `11, 193e UNITED STATES JOHN RALPH FERR, OF DAYTON, OHIO,

viissieiroa, BY Masiva. ASSIGNMENTS, To

yIFIB'IGIDAIIBIE CORPORATION, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE BEFEIGEB.TING` APIPARATUS Application led December 2,1926. Serial No. 152,262.

This invention realtes to cooling units for mechanical refrigerators, and more particularly to cooling units which are adapted to be installed in refrigerating cabinets of' the household type. However, it is to be understood that the present invention may be adapted for larger refrigerating cabinets of the commercial type.

The present invention includes among its objects the provision of a cooling unit of sim-A ple and economical construction vwhich will quickly congeal or freeze substances which are laced within a freezing compartment provided by the unit, and which will effectively cool the food compartment of the cabinet.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the laccompanying drawings, wherein a'preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator cabinet with the doors open in order to show the food compartment and a cooling unit within al cooling compartment; v

'Fi 2 is a view on a larger scale than Fig. 1, showing the' front view of the cooling unit which is suspended within the coolin comshown in vertical section; and` Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cooling unit drawn to the same scale as Fig. 2. y

Referring to the drawings, 20 designates a 85 refrigerator cabinet which provides an L- vshaped food compartment 21 separated fromv a cooling compartment 22 by a horizontal partition 23 and a vertical partition 24. The partition 24 is provided with a flue 25, admitting relatively Warm air from the food compartment 21 to the cooling compartment 22; and the partition 23 is rovided with a flue 26, admitting cooled air rom the compartment 22 to the com artment 21. The partition 23 supports a ba e 27 which prevents moisture, dripping entering the iue 26. The bae 27 directs such moisture upony the upper surface of the partition 23, and this moisture is conducted away a0 through a drain pipe 28.

from the cooling unit above, from The cooling unit located-within the cooling compartment 22, includes a boiler or header 30 attached to the top wall of the cabinet by bracket members 31 and 32. Condensed refrigerant is conducted to the header 30 from a compressor and condenser (not shown) through a pipe 33 and a tting 34. Refrigerant is admitted from the fitting 34, as needed, by a float-controlled valve (not shown), of suitable construction, located within the header 30. Expanded refrigerant is conducted back to the compressor through a fitting 35 and a pipe 36. The refrigerating compressor Vand condenser with which the pipes 33 and 36 are connected, maybe located outside of the cabinet, if desired, or may be placed within y a machine compartment located below the food compartment 21, said compartment having a rem'ovable front wall 37 provided with louvers 38.v

The cooling unit includes a plurality o f v ducts 40 and 41 of metal of good thermal conductivity connected with the header 30 at their upper ends and closed at their lower ends. These ducts may be arranged as shown in horizontal rows. The inner rows cooperating with the header yto enclose a quick freezing space 42. The ducts 40 are located more remote from the space 42 and are sub- 30 partment of a cabinet, the Walls of Whlch are ,jected to the currents of air which circulate through the iues 25 and 26. Preferably, the

outer rows of ducts 40 are staggered relative to the inner rows of ducts 41 so that the ducts 40 will not over-lie the ducts 4,1.l Thus the air. which descends between the ducts 40 may descend freely into contact with the ducts 41.

The staggering of the rows of ducts 40 and 41 also permits staggering the rows 'of holes provided along each side of the header to receive the ducts, thus allowing close spacin of these holes without undue weakening o the side walls of the header. This arrangement also ermits a greater quantity of frost to accumu ate upon the ducts 41 without substantial obstruction-'to the iow of air along the ducts 40, than would' be the case if the ducts were not staggered in arrangement,A

The connections of. the ducts .with this header are preferably made before attaching and thermally connecting with the ducts 41 one or more metal sleeves 43 for receiving trays 44 containing matter to be frozen or congealed. Since the ducts are independently movable, the ducts 41 can he lndlvidually adjusted so that they will conform with and make good contact with the side walls of the sleeves 43 which may be joined thereto by. soldering, brazing or the like. Likewise the ducts 40 may be bent relative to the header 30 than other portions of the chamber 22 sincethis space is somewhat isolated from the air currents passing the ducts by reason of the location of the ducts 41, and for the further reason that the accumulation of frost upon the ducts 41 is-greater than upon the ducts 40. The latter condition results from the fact that the ducts 41 remain cold during the idle periods of ythe refrigerating .machine dueto their partial isolation from air currents and thermal Contact with frozen substances within the space 42, whereas the ducts 40 are warmed by these air currents.

If desired, the ducts 40 may be provided with vertical laterally extending fins or plates to increase the cooling eifect thereof upon the air 4coming in contact therewith, thereby either cooling the air to a lower temperature or increasing the air-cooling capacity of the cooling unit, and the proportions and arrangements of the ducts 40 and attached iins may be such that these partsare partially fle-frosted during the idle periods 'of the refrigerating machine or remain partiallyy free from frost thereby further increasing the cooling effect due to the absence of' frost which tends to retard the transfer of heat from the air to the metal parts of the cooling unit.

While theform f embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood' that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the. scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A cooling unit for-mechanical refrigeration comprising: lan elongated header,

and a plurality of ducts depending from the header and closed at their lower ends, cer-` tain ducts co-operating directly to enclose a freezing space below the header, and certain other ducts being spaced from the freezing space so as-to be completely exposed to air circulating adjacent the cooling unit.

2. A. cooling unit according to claim 1in which the ducts which enclose the freezing space are located in vertical rows on eitherl side of a freezing space below the header. 3. A coolingA unit according to claim :l in` .being'located so as to be completely exposed to air circulating adjacent thecooling unit. 4. A'coolingunit according to claim l in whichthe ducts which directly enclose thel freezing space support shelves for receivingv ice trays.

5. A cooling unit .for mechanical refrigera-tors adapted to be placed -ii the path of the medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising a header, a plurality of duct means connected with the header in parallel circuit relation, certain of'said duct means being closed at the lower end, saidl duct means having a portion arranged to provide a freezing zone, and another portion providing a cooling zone, the material of said secondmentioned portion lying outwardly ofthe freezing zone in the path of the circulating medium and so constructed and arranged as to provide a shield of heat exchange material for shielding the freezing zone from the action of the circulating' medium.

6. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators adapted to be placed in the path of the medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising aheader, a plurality of duct means connected with the header in parallel circuit relation, certain of said duct means being closed at the lower end and providing a freezing zone, and certain of said duct means providing a cooling zone, the material of the second-mentioned duct means lying outwardly of the freezing zone in the pathof ion unit comprising a header, a p urality of duct means connected with the header in parallel circuit relation, certain of said duct means providing a freezing zone,. and certainof said ducts being closed at the lower end and providing a cooling zone, the material of the second-mentioned duct means lying voutwardly of the freezing zone inthe path of the cir-v culating medium and so .constructed and arranged asto provide a shield `of heat exchange material for shieldin the freezing zone from the action of the clrculating me dium.

8,. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigera- .tors adapted to be placedin the path of the medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising heat exchange means having a portion arranged to provide a freezingv zone, and another portion providing acooling zone, the material ofthe secondfmenf tioned portion lying outwardly of the freezing zone in the path of the clrculating medium and so constructed and arranged as to provide a shield of heat exchange material for shielding the freezing zone from the action of the circulating medium, said heat exchange means including a header and a plurality of ducts each connected therewith in parallel circuit relation and closed at one en l0 9.` A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators adapted to be placed in the path of the medium cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising a header, opposed duct means v connected'with the header in parallel circuit relation and providing a freezing zone therebetween, and duct means providing a cooling zone, said second-mentioned duct means being connected with the header in circuit relation separate from one another and from the first-mentioned duct means and lying outwardly of a plurality of sides of the freezing zone in the path of circulating medium and so constructed and arranged as to provide a shield of heat exchange material for shielding the freezing zone from the action of the circulating medium.

10. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising a'header for liquid reau frigerant, opposedgroups of ducts providing a freezing zone therebetween, said ducts being closed at their lower ends and con- A nected at their upper ends to receive liquid refrigerant from the header and return gaseous refrigerant to the header for circulating refrigerant about the freezing zone.

11. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising a .header for liquid re-4 frigerant, a plurality of refrigerant convey- 4o ing ducts, certain of said ducts being closed at their lower ends and connected at their upper ends to receive refrigerant from the header and return gaseous refrigerant to said header, said certain ducts cooperating with other of said ducts to provide a freezing zone therebetween.

Inn testimony whereof I hereto aiix my signature.

JOHN RALPH FEHR. 

